Periodic table display device

ABSTRACT

A three-dimensional device for displaying the periodic table of chemical elements in a substantially continuous helical sequence with substantially all elements arranged to be adjacent those having sequential atomic number and with those of the same chemical family or group being arranged in the same column. A rotor in the device has indicia denoting the lanthanides and actinides and is rotatable to expose selected indicia through a window in the device.

Ulllfii States Patent 1 1111 3,724,098

McSmith 1451 Apr. 3, 1973- 541 PERIODIC TABLE DISPLAY DEVICE 3,581,4096/1971 Alexander .1 ..35/l8 R t. I [76] Inventor gz fi i 2x 2323 ChapelS Primary Examiner-Harland S. Skogqurst p Attorney-Bacon & Thomas [22]Filed: Apr. 8, 1971 21 Appl. No.: 132,292 [57] ABSTRACT v Athree-dimensional device for displaying the periodic table of chemicalelements in a substantially continu- (g1. ous helical Sequence withsubstantially all elements an [58] Fieid 40/111 ranged to be adjacentthose having sequential atomic number and with those of the samechemical family or group being arranged in the same column. A rotor in[56] C'ted the device has indicia denoting the lanthanides and ac-UNITED STATES PATENTS tinides and is rotatable to expose selectedindicia through a window in the device. 2,400,268 5/1946 Skene ..40I111X 9/1951 Peterson; ..40/111 5 Claims, 6 Drawing Figures PERIODIC TABLEDISPLAY DEVICE BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION This invention relates todisplay devices, particularly adapted to display the various elementscommonly exhibited in the well-known PERIODIC TABLE OF THE ELEMENTS.

As is well-known, all of the chemical elements are customarily arrangedon a chart in horizontal rows and vertical columns and wherein thehorizontal rows denote chemical elements of successive atomic numbers.The vertical columns contain elements having common chemicalcharacteristics and are often referred to as families of elements.However, to arrange the elements in such order results in a chartconsisting of three continuous horizontal rows with the vertical columnsextending above the uppermost row at the end portions of the chart, thusresulting in a display wherein successive atomic numbers are not alldirectly adjacent each other. Furthermore, certain other groups ofelements known as the lanthanides, or rare earths, and the actinides,are not customarily arranged in the main chart but are displayedseparately in an arrangement of two horizontal rows of elements. Theatomic numbers of the lanthanides are of values appearing betweencertain elements in a horizontal row of the main chart.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The present invention comprises generally athreedimensional body having a continuous peripheral surface defined bya first generally cylindrical lower portion and a second or uppercylindrical portion of smaller diameter extending upwardly from the mainportion and being tangent to the outer surface of the main body at oneside thereof. The elements of the portion are arranged in the form of ahelix, as clearly seen in FIG. 1.

The lower portion 6 is provided with a generally cylindrical chamber 12(see FIGS. 3 and 4) in which a cylindrical drum 14 is rotatably mountedon a suitable shaft or pivot 16. As best seen in FIG. 4, the chamber 12is eccentric to the body portion 6, extending very close to the outersurface thereof, in one region, and

I a generally helical continuous row extending from near periodic tableare arranged on the outer surface of the numbers directly adjacent eachother. The lanthanides and actinides are displayed on a separaterotatable drum within the first portion and visible through a windowtherein 'in one or more positions'on the helical row and where theiratomic numbers normally appear if in DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS FIG. 1is a perspective view of a preferred embodiment of the invention;

FIG. 2 is a top plan view of FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 is a vertical sectional view taken substantially along the line3-3 of FIG. 1;

F IG.- 4 is a horizontal sectional view taken substantially along theline 44 of FIG. 1;

FIG. 5 is a planar display showing the arrangement of the lanthanidesand actinides on the surface of a rotatable drum; and

FIG. 6 is a fragmentary perspective view illustratinga modification ofthe structure in FIG. 1.

p DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS upon which a'displaystructure 4- is fixedly mounted.

the top of the upper portion 8 helically downwardly across thecontinuous surface 10, then on to the outer surface of the portion 6 andsubstantially to the bottom thereof, all as is clearly evident fromFIG. 1. Each of the elements is shown in the drawings as beingidentified only by its symbol and atomic number. his to be understood,however, that the area denoting each element will contain additionalinformation and data concerning that element, as is customary on theconventional periodic table. Such additional data or indicia have beenomitted from the drawings herein to render the same less confusing.

his to be further noted that the element hydrogen having atomic number1, appears on the device to the left of the element helium bearingatomic number 2. If desired, the element hydrogen may also be delineatedimmediately above the element-lithium bearing atomic number 3 since itbelongs to the same chemical family as lithium and the elementsappearing in the column I therebelow (FIG..1). The upper surface of theportion 6, adjacent the edge 11 may also bear indicia identifying thecolumns therebelow and from those indicia, it is preferred thatdirection or indicator lines '20 'be' provided to indicate those columnson upper portion 8 that are to be considered as upward continuations ofthe indicated columns on lower portion 6, thus identifying the displayedelements which belong to the same chemical families.

- In the conventional periodic table chart, there is customarily a jumpfrom atomic number 57 (La) to atomic number 72 (Hf) in the lowestcontinuous row of the chart. The lanthanides or rare earths bear atomicnumbers from 58 to 71, which would normally fall between the twoelements (La and Hf) having atomic numbers 57 and 72. The window 18previously referred to occupies the position on which element havingatomic number 57 (La) wouldnormally appear. Thus, when the drum 14 ispositioned to exhibit element of atomic number 57 through the opening18, the display of the device corresponds to the conventional periodictable. However, the drum 14 may be manually rotated to position anydesired one of'the lanthanides or actinides in position to be viewedthrough the opening 18. Rotation of the drum 14 may be accomplished byengaging the same through the opening 18.

To successfully rotate the drum 14 through the open-. ing 18 shown inFIG. 1, it is almost necessary to use a fairly thin member, such as apencil having an eraser thereon, or the like. To facilitate rotation ofthe drum,

with a thumb or finger of the user, applicant contemplates themodification shown in FIG. 6 wherein a the top or at the bottom of thedevice.

While a limited number of specific embodiments have been shown anddescribed herein, the same are merely illustrative of the principles ofthe invention and the scope thereof is limited only by the scope of theappended claims.

I claim:

1. A display device for displaying a periodic table of the elements,comprising:

a body having a first upright generally cylindrical portion ofrelatively large diameter and a second upright cylindrical portion ofrelatively small diameter fixed to said first portion and extendingupwardly therefrom substantially tangent to said first portion at oneside thereof to define therewith an axially continuous narrow peripheralsurface, the upper peripheral edge of said first portion ex-. tendinghelically upwardly from one side of said narrow surface to the otherside thereof;

a multiplicity of indicia on the outer surfaces of said portions,denoting the chemical elements, said indicia being arranged in asubstantially continuous helical row with the indicia being arrangedalong said row in the order of their atomic numbers and indicia on eachportion, denoting elements of the same chemical family, being arrangedin substantially vertical columns; and

indicating means extending from each column on said second portion, thatis displaced from said narrow surface, to the tops of the columns on thefirst portion identifying elements of the same chemical family.

2. A display device as defined in claim 1 wherein said first portion isprovided with a chamber therein, an opening in the peripheral surface ofsaid first portion communicating with said chamber; at least one membermovably mounted in said chamber to position successive surface portionsat said opening; and a row of further indicia on said surface portionsdenoting certain chemical elements whereby said further indicia may beselectively positioned for viewing through said f isplay device asdefined in claim 2 wherein said opening is positioned to lie in saidhelical row between indicia bearing atomic numbers (56) and (72), saidfurther indicia denoting chemical elements of atomic numbers (57) to(71), arranged in numerical sequence.

4. A display device as defined in claim 2 wherein said at least onemember is provided with a pair of rows of said further indicia, one ofsaid rows denoting the lanthanides and the other row denoting theactinides; said opening being vertically elongated whereby indicia fromeach of said rows may be simultaneously viewed therethrough.

5. A display device as defined in claim 2 wherein said member is acylindrical member pivotally mounted in said chamber about an uprightaxis, the peripheral surface of said cylindrical member being inwardlyof said opening and bearing said further indicia.

1. A display device for displaying a periodic table of the elements,comprising: a body having a first upright generally cylindrical portionof relatively large diameter and a second upright cylindrical portion ofrelatively small diameter fixed to said first portion and extendingupwardly therefrom substantially tangent to said first portion at oneside thereof to define therewith an axially continuous narrow peripheralsurface, the upper peripheral edge of said first portion extendinghelically upwardly from one side of said narrow surface to the otherside thereof; a multiplicity of indicia on the outer surfaces of saidportions, denoting the chemical elements, said indicia being arranged ina substantially continuous helical row with the indicia being arrangedalong said row in the order of their atomic numbers and indicia on eachportion, denoting elements of the same chemical family, being arrangedin substantially vertical columns; and indicating means extending fromeach column on said second portion, that is displaced from said narrowsurface, to the tops of the columns on the first portion identifyingelements of the same chemical family.
 2. A display device as defined inclaim 1 wherein said first portion is provided with a chamber therein,an opening in the peripheral surface of said first portion communicatingwith said chamber; at least one member movably mounted in said chamberto position successive surface portions at said opening; and a row offurther indicia on said surface portions denoting certain chemicalelements whereby said further indicia may be selectively positioned forviewing through said opening.
 3. A display device as defined in claim 2wherein said opening is positioned to lie in said helical row betweenindicia bearing atomic numbers (56) and (72), said further indiciadenoting chemical elements of atomic numbers (57) to (71), arranged innumerical sequence.
 4. A display device as defined in claim 2 whereinsaid at least one member is provided with a pair of rows of said furtherindicia, one of said rows denoting the lanthanides and the other rowdenoting the actinides; said opening being vertically elongated wherebyindicia from each of said rows may be simultaneously viewedtherethrough.
 5. A display device as defined in claim 2 wherein saidmember is a cylindrical member pivotally mounted in said chamber aboutan upright axis, the peripheral surface of said cylindrical member beinginwardly of said opening and bearing said further indicia.